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Introduction: Cervical cancer (CC) poses a substantial burden in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), where challenges in implementing effective screening programs and achieving high participation rates persist. Aims: This study sought to compare different strategies for recruiting women for CC screening in Albania, Montenegro, and Morocco, and compared usual care (ongoing invitation method) with an alternative approach (intervention strategy). Methods: Within each country, the following comparisons were made: face-to-face (FF) invitations versus phone calls (PCs) in Albania, PCs versus letter invitations in Montenegro, and FF invitations to women attending healthcare centers versus a combined approach termed "Invitation made in Morocco" (utilizing PC and FF for hard-to-reach women) in Morocco. Questionnaires that assessed facilitators and barriers to participation were administered to women who either attended or refused screening. Results: In Albania, significant differences in the examination coverage were observed between the invitation methods (PC: 46.1% vs. FF: 87.1%, p < 0.01) and between the rural and urban settings (rural: 89.1% vs. urban: 76.3%, p < 0.01). In Montenegro, the coverage varied based on the recruitment method (PC: 17.7% vs. letter invitation: 7.6%; p < 0.01), the setting (urban: 28.3% vs. rural: 13.2%; p < 0.01), and age (<34 years: 10.9% vs. 34+: 9.6%, p < 0.01). In Morocco, no significant differences were observed. Common screening facilitators included awareness of CC prevention and understanding the benefits of early diagnosis, while key barriers included a limited perception of personal CC risk and the fear of testing positive. Discussion: FF appeared to be effective in promoting participation, but its broader implementation raised sustainability concerns. PC invitations proved feasible, albeit necessitating updates to population registries. Restricting FF contacts for hard-to-reach communities may enhance the affordability and equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Few epidemiological studies have assessed the risk of parkinsonisms after prolonged use of neuroleptics. We aimed to examine the long-term risk of degenerative parkinsonisms (DP) associated with previous use of neuroleptics.Methods: All residents in Piedmont, Northern-west Italy, older than 39 years (2,526,319 subjects), were retrospectively followed up from 2013 to 2017. Exposure to neuroleptics was assessed through the regional archive of drug prescriptions. The development of DP was assessed using the regional archives of both drug prescriptions and hospital admissions. We excluded prevalent DP cases at baseline as well as those occurred in the first 18 months (short-term risk). The risk of DP associated with previous use of neuroleptics was examined through Cox regression, using a matched cohort design.Results: The risk of DP was compared between 63,356 exposed and 316,779 unexposed subjects. A more than threefold higher risk of DP was observed among subjects exposed to antipsychotics, compared to those unexposed (HR = 3.27, 95% CI 3.00-3.57), and was higher for exposure to atypical than typical antipsychotics. The risk decreased after 2 years from therapy cessation but remained significantly elevated (HR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.76-3.21).Conclusions: These results indicate a high risk of developing DP long time from the start of use and from the cessation for both typical and atypical neuroleptics, suggesting the need of monitoring treated patients even after long-term use and cessation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the past 50 years there was a substantial decrease in the prevalence of smoking in Italy. The objective of this work is to describe attempts to quit and cessation success in Italian smokers. Methods: A surveillance on health-related behaviors (PASSI) was conducted in 2007-13 on a sample of 203 610 Italian adults 25-64 years of age. An analysis of smokers' characteristics and behaviors was performed, focusing on attempts to quit and quit success. Data from national surveys (ISTAT) from 1983 to 2013 (Italian adults, 25-64 years of age, 1983: 46 634; 1987: 40 915; 1990: 36 622; 2000: 77 531; 2005: 71 032; 2013: 64 205) were used to explore if a cessation trend in Italy exists. Results: Smokers who quit in the previous year and were still abstinent when interviewed increased from 1990 to 2013. In the years 2011-13, 38% of people who had smoked in the last 12 months reported at least a quit attempt during the same period and 7% were still abstinent when interviewed. An association of successful recent quit attempts with higher educational level, absence of economic difficulties and younger age was found. In the years 2007-13, the great majority tried to stop unaided. Having received assistance from a cessation program did not increase the probability of enduring abstinence. Conclusions: In Italy interventions to drive more smokers to quit should be focused in particular on disadvantaged groups. Initiatives have to be studied not only to incentive more smokers to try to quit, but also to maintain abstinence over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many studies on migrant health have focused on aspects of morbidity and mortality, but very few approach the relevant issues of migrants' health considering behavioral risk factors. Previous studies have often been limited methodologically because of sample size or lack of information on migrant country of origin. Information about risk factors is fundamental to direct any intervention, particularly with regard to non-communicable diseases that are leading causes of death and disease. Thus, the main focus of our analysis is the influence of country of origin and the assimilation process. Method: Utilizing a surveillance system that has been collecting over 30,000 interviews a year in Italy since 2008, we have studied migrants' attitudes and behaviors by country of origin and by length of stay. Given 6 years of observation, we have obtained and analyzed 228,201 interviews of which over 9000 were migrants. Results: While migrants overall present similar conditions to native-born Italians, major differences appear when country of origin or length of stay is considered. Subgroups of migrants present substantially different behaviors, some much better than native-born Italians, some worse. However, integration processes generally produce a convergence towards the behavioral prevalence observed for native-born Italians. Conclusions: Health programs should consider the diversity of the growing migrant population: data and analyses are needed to support appropriate policies. Many migrants' subgroups arrive with healthier behaviors than those of their adopted country. However, they are likely to have a less favorable social position in their destination countries that could lead to a change towards less healthy behaviors. Interventions capable of identifying this tendency could produce significant better health for this important part of the future (multicultural) populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]